Digital Literacies: Using Wikis to

Bridge the Literacy Gap

Mark Abbondanza
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DIGITIZATION
 Compilation of “digital texts”
 Emergence of Web 2.0
 Emergence of “collaborative” tools

Based on a report published by the International

Data Corporatation titled, “The Diverse and
Exploding Universe: An Updated Forecast of
Worldwide Information Growth Through 2011,”
stated that the digital universe will be ten times
the size it was in 2006.

Anderson-Inman, L. (2009)
 NET GENERATION NEEDS
According to Tapscott’s (2009) book, Grown Up
Digital,

 Customization
 Continual feedback on performance
 Virtual learning opportunities
 Collaboration
 Entertainment
 Informal learning opportunities

(Tapscott, D. 2009 )
 DIGITAL LITERACY
Traditional instructional methods of the
past will no longer provide students with
the set of tools, requisite skills, and
knowledge required for the 21st century
(Tapscott, D. 1998. From Grown UP
Digital,).

 Challenging traditional teaching methods

 Promote collaboration/participation
 Require educators to reshape pedagogy
 SOCIAL NETWORKING TOOLS
 Facebook
 MySpace
 Blogs
 Wikis- multimodal, collaborative, interactive

Communications tools are a part of most students’ lives outside

of school. As technology provides ways for teachers to help
shape the constructive use of communication tools in the
classroom, a new world of experiences is opening up for
students. (p.5)

Johnson L., Levine A., Smith, R., & Smythe , T. (2009)

 BRIDGING THE GAP

 Modify current pedagogy to address

multiliteracies
 Connect out-of school and in-school
environments with social networking
Literacy 2.0 is grounded in achieving
authentic purposes and completing
meaningful tasks. Unfortunately, it
doesn’t mesh well with such practices
as book reports, comprehension
questions, leveled reading tasks, and
weekly spelling tests that students are
asked to do in school. (pg. 24)

Knobel M, and Wilber, D. (2009)

 QUESTION TO THINK ABOUT

 Are social networking tools like wikis being

used in schools to address multiliteracies?

 Are pedagogical changes occurring in

schools today?

 Can 21st century skills be implemented if the

U.S. continues to use standardized testing as
a way to measure students performance?